Former College Teammate Silent On ‘Free Hernandez’ Hat

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DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey declined to join twin brother Maurkice in apologizing for wearing a baseball cap that supported former college teammate Aaron Hernandez, who has been charged with murder.

The Pounceys were photographed during their recent birthday party in Miami wearing caps that read “Free Hernandez.”

Hernandez, a former New England Patriots tight end, played with the Pounceys at the University of Florida from 2007 to 2009. Hernandez is charged with murder in Massachusetts and has pleaded not guilty.

Following the Dolphins’ first training camp practice Sunday, Mike Pouncey said he didn’t want to discuss his cap.

“I’m just here to focus on football,” he said. Later he added, “We get paid a lot of money to act a certain way, and that’s the way we should be acting.”

Miami coach Joe Philbin declined to disclose what he said to Pouncey about the cap.

“I will tell you that it’s important for every member of this organization — player, coach — to represent the Miami Dolphins in a first-class manner,” Philbin said.

Maurkice Pouncey, an All-Pro center for the Pittsburgh Steelers, said last week on his Twitter account that he understood the seriousness of the situation involving Hernandez and regretted making light of it.